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- Hours:
Mon-Fri 2 pm - 2 am
Sat-Sun 12 pm - 2 am
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$
- Music:
- DJ, Juke Box
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- Yes
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Dive-y
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
Lulu W. said: "After Alembic, my friends decided to go to a different bar. I'm definitely down to try a new bar since I'm new to the area!! This place had the Vodka of my choice along with the mixers that Alembic did not have. I was tempted to try…" read more »
151 reviews for Acme Bar
Review Highlights
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"This place is a great little dive." In 37 reviews -
"Digital Jukebox with plenty of Moz." In 33 reviews -
"And there's Fernet and Jameson on tap." In 5 reviews
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151 reviews in English
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Review from Dave S.
3/22/2012
This place has the best ratio of quality booze / pretension of any bar I've been to in the bay area. They have a fantastic selection of every type of liquor and bartenders who know their spirits. Don't bother trying to choose among the many bourbons, gins, whiskeys, and scotches, just ask the bartender what's good and drink it straight with water on the side. They also have all the local liquors including St. George spirits. You would never guess walking by this place that the bar is so well stocked.
The place is low-key and the jukebox plays a good random mix of music. They do play some popular music once every 5 songs or so to keep the hipsters away.
The only downside is that the more esoteric liquors are about $9-11 a pour, but you get a decent amount. I will be trying the tasting flights next time I am here.Listed in: Quality Boozin'
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Review from troy m.
3/22/2012
Just like at the Missouri Lounge, whiskey and a beer at Acme is $5. Also, how have I not written this review already?
There are two things that make Acme bar a cut above most in Berkeley. First, it's largely overlooked. Sure, it's got over 100 reviews and will occasionally fill up, but for the most part you can at least get a table, and sometimes it is straight up dead. Second, it's right next to Lanesplitter's, meaning that you can decide to get some pretty solid, fast pizza on a whim. How are you even going to argue with that?
Acme then rounds things out with the random things that make me go to one bar over another: functional, comically tagged, if gross bathrooms, a gimmicky photo booth, rad bartenders, and modified liquor bottle housings for all of the hanging lights. Combine that with the above and a perfectly random clientele, and it's one of my go-to spots on that side of town. As long as you're not planning on drinking like a fancy lady and don't mind some character, I think you'll like Acme Bar too.Listed in: Berkeley Bars - An…
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Review from Damon Z.
3/1/2012
What a great dive. How did I live in Emeryville for 5 years, and not know about this spot, just up the way, in Berkeley, on San Pablo.
Ok, I'll admit, I love the finer things in life, but in reality, I'm just a regular dude, and I need to be around regular people to keep my head from getting too inflated. Acme Bar has offered me such an outlet. I walked in the door, no pretentiousness at all, just a bunch of people, with smiling faces, having a good time. I'm a whiskey person, and their selections of whiskey were so plentiful, that I couldn't decide!!! I ended up going for a beer on tap. It was my first time trying out Ranger IPA. It had a strong hoppy start, and the taste lingers mildly through the finish. But I'm not here to rate products, I'm here to talk about this excellent dive. The bartenders are totally knowledgeable about everything they serve, and answered my questions so thoroughly, that I felt like I was their sole priority. Music - Heavy metal rock music is normally not my thing, but for some reason, it (playing over the speakers in the bar) went well with the experience of being there.
Oh, and just because it's a dive, doesn't mean it has to be dingy. Everything seemed to be well cleaned and maintained, and though the lighting is appropriately dim, the atmosphere was overall fresh and airy. If you've never been, just be prepared to be overwhelmed with choices, like two dozen of each type of liquor! Oh my gosh, I'm going to have to visit about 100 times to try them all, oh well................ -
Review from Lili b.
Studio City, CA
5/16/2012
cool little bar. was looking for somewhere to watch the lakers and this was the only bar nearby with a tv. bartenders were friendly. good selection of beers. lots of restaurants nearby you can bring your own food. crowd started to pick up around 10pm. great music!
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Review from Peggy L.
San Leandro, CA
5/3/2012 1 Check-in Here
Love coming here for Happy Hour ($3 Racer 5s)! Also has a full bar and ample parking on the street. Only drawback is that it's kinda small, so come early if you have a big crowd!!
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 5/20/2012
Thanks for your great review. We just wanted to let you know… More » -
Review from Victor G.
2/2/2012
Acme Bar's proper handle includes "and company". one is cognizant of this immediately upon glancing at the bar shelf stocked with over an hundred labels of whiskey, brandy, vodka, etc, etc. over 20 choices in each category.
the offerings are discretely written on 2 overhead blackboard across from the stacked liquors.
music: heavy metal rock
flatscreen: yes
pour: st george single malt whiskey (10)
-straight shot very smooth. from alameda's finest
-very potent.
on tap:
-just 2 draughts
-many bottles available, pbr is the fav (2? 3?)
-bartenders plaesant, helpful....
-leaving at 4 stars so i have an excuse to return and upgrade to 5 stars (for variety)
-pretty small place.
-unsure if pours are priced competively.Listed in: whiskey bars
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Review from Ting S.
1/10/2012 1 photo
What's not to love:
- a bazillion varieties of scotch, bourbon, rye, tequila, gins, vodka, rum and absinthe. all listed on blackboards lining the wall.
- flights of 3 ranging from $9-$25
- perfectly concocted cocktails
- bloody marys that constitute a meal, complete with pickled string beans. topped with carne asada on sundays = "meatshake" ($6)
- great music, often favoring Biggie as the nights go on
- sassy bartenders that keep order in the house
- a variety of food trucks parked outside, or bring in your own food
- excellent beer prices
- Happy hour M-F, 4-7pm: $3 selected drafts.
- photobooth
- mixed crowd of working adults, minimal Cal students.
- .....and....drumroll.....Jameson on tap! WHAT?!
credit cards accepted.Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 2/2/2012
Thank you so much for your great review. We really… More » -
Review from Elizabeth R.
Renton, WA
4/9/2012
I love this place. An amazing booze selection with bartenders who know how to make a solid drink -- even if you don't know what you want. The people who hang out there are incredibly friendly, as is the staff. Add to all of this the fact that the music they play, while varied, is almost always awesome and you've got my favorite bar in Berkeley. Hands down.
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 5/20/2012
Thank you so much for your great review! We really… More » -
Review from W W.
Oakland, CA
2/11/2012
Acme is not a place I would ordinarily frequent. First of all, I'm not much of a bar person, which maybe makes me lame, but there it is. However, it just so happens that I work down the block from Acme, so over the past year, I have had multiple opportunities to come have a post-work beer with coworkers. In addition, I have met a bunch of the regulars and the bartenders and they seem to be a really cool, accessible bunch. Not pretentious, down-to-earth, and the bartenders I've come to know are super, super nice and friendly.
The jukebox has a wonderfully eclectic mix of music, so you never know what you'll hear, but if you're lucky and have extensive musical tastes, you should be in for a treat. Or, if you get someone who loads the juke with a bunch of stuff you can't stand, there's sort of an old-school-y bar vibe about that.
The place seems rather dive-y on the surface, but if you look closer, you'll note that things are relatively clean, at least for a bar. Really cute neighborhood bar where, if you come often enough, could be like a North Berkeley Cheers. -
Review from Leilani H.
Pleasanton, CA
3/23/2012
An ex-boyfriend turned me on to this place and I am still hooked. By far the best bloody mary's I've ever had. Super hip place. The beer selection is super. The staff is full of personality. Great people watching. It's a Berkeley gem. I have been back several times and will continue to frequent this place when in need of a good bloody mary.
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Review from jen d.
3/19/2012
This place has the best and cheapest bloody marys in the Bay Area, hands down. Other places out here will commit the ultimate sin and charge you 10-12 dollars for a bloody mary and then do nothing but stick a piece of celery in there. In Chicago, we would kill you for this type of behavior and for not having a meat bar set up. Acme puts so many veggies in your drink and a big ol hunk of carne asada on Sundays! This is my kind of house of worship on Sundays. Really good whiskey selection as well. Now if only every bar out here didn't have those awful $1 for a song digital jukeboxes. Overall, a great spot for a bloody mary!
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Review from Alex D.
Berkeley, CA
3/27/2012
Everything a bar should be. It may just be that I was experiencing a mild existential crisis but this bar made me feel better about life. Experienced, and helpful bartenders, non-pretentious atmosphere, a dj spinning some of the best tracks I didn't know I needed to hear until I heard them. My drinks were not just reasonably priced, but made with care, and delicious to boot. When I think of Acme and Berkeley I no longer think bread, and I am legitimately happy for that.
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Review from Dave B.
Oakland, CA
4/27/2012
I had been to Acme a few times a few years back before the remodel and I even loved it then when it was super dark and smoke-filled. But now, with a cleaned-up look and a more pleasant odor I like it even more! The selection is OUTRAGEOUS... If you like variety and can afford buying from the top shelf, you won't be disappointed here! The bartenders are very knowledgeable in what they do back there... The vibe has just the right ratio of hipsters vs. random bay area-ites to not be redundant... I usually make this my last stop on a night of drinking, namely so I can enjoy a couple fingers of Yamazaki 12 year-old whisky which isn't easy to find behind a bar... And I'll admit, a tallboy PBR in the can is sometimes a necessary evil... Minus one star for the bathroom bog, but I've only ever really been to a bar with a clean bathroom like once in my entire alcoholic career... Do yourself a favor and get drunk here!
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Review from Luis M.
Oakland, CA
1/17/2012
I like this place so much that even if I had to suffer an inebriated Russian puking in my truck again, I'd still go back. The fact that I won't have to submit to those terms means the only puking I'll be subjected to is my own from ordering one too many flights of whiskey on future return visits.
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 2/2/2012
Thanks for your review! It made us laugh. Next time you… More » -
Review from Art O.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2011
Fun bar on the West Side - represent! Yeah, I wish they had this bar when I was in school. Or maybe I should be careful what I wish for. If I wasn't already distracted and broke enough in school then Acme Bar would've just added to my overall poverty and a lower GPA. Oh well, it would've been a good time nonetheless.
I especially like how they had pinball! The Lord of the Rings game is 5 balls per play too - a rarity these days. I can only imagine playing this game until closing while my paper on Kant's Critique of Pure Reason was due in the morning.
A return visit is due very soon. -
Review from Brent R.
Berkeley, CA
8/27/2011
I saw this place being remodeled a year ago and I've been meaning to stop by. Well I did and thank God! I should have stopped by sooner. This place is awesome!
The first thing I noticed was this HUGE list of 130 different whiskeys. Then I noticed another big sign listing 35 tequilas, 30 vodkas, and more. WHAT? How come I haven't been here earlier? I ordered a mojito and I watched the super friendly waitress take her time making my drink. She put the ice in a bag and literally beat it with a stick. Now that's service! When she handed me the finished product, I took a sip and it tasted freakishly good. I sucked that tasty beverage down like a Gatorade.
Friendly staff, tasty drinks, descent prices, cool decor, I give this place five stars. Just a note, this place has a happy hour from 4-7pm, maybe I'll see you there.Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 8/31/2011
Thank you so much for your great review! So glad you like… More » -
Review from Katie V.
San Francisco, CA
Updated - 10/24/2011 1 photo
Five Reasons to Love ACME Bar:
1) Kick-ASS spirit collection. Seriously. I'm a girl who loves my whiskey and with over 130 whiskeys ACME does not disappoint. (And though I rarely stray in my drink of choice, I've been impressed with the collection of Vodka and Gin as well.)
2) Awesome staff. Everyone who works at ACME is awesome. I shit you not. They are friendly and great at their jobs. It's clear they like where they work and what they do. Just don't be a jerk and you'll love them too.
3) Cool vibe. I love the atmosphere at ACME. It's a brilliant blend of neighborhood, dive, and hipster, with just the right amount of class. It's just a fun place to be.
4) Epic Tunes. Whether it's coming from the jukebox or the DJ on Friday and Saturday nights, something great always seems to be playing. It's
like the bar attracts people with wicked good taste in music.
5) And because five reasons really aren't enough...tasty cocktails, pinball, photo booth, clean bathrooms, delicious Luxardo cherries, friendly regulars, booze on tap, etc. Oh yeah, and now karaoke on the first Thursday of the month.
Basically I heart ACME.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/22/2011
Five Reasons to Love ACME Bar:
1) Kick-ASS spirit collection. Seriously. I'm a girl who loves my… Read more »
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 6/1/2011
Thank you so much for your great review! So glad you like… More » -
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Review from Melanie C.
Berkeley, CA
2/6/2012
Great dive. Awesome selection of anything/everything. (FYI - Cocchi Americano for $7. Yum.) Killer digital jukebox with everything from Texan country to old school UK alternative modern rock.
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Review from Schuyler C.
Berkeley, CA
7/11/2011
As though it were transplanted from Portland, Oregon, Acme bar is a trendy, intimate West Berkeley bar that's somehow both divey and upscale. The booze selection is excellent - in particular the Straight Rye Whiskey selection - and the aesthetic of the place is pitch-perfect for the under-40 crowd in the east bay. The location is a big selling point for me, as I live about a half mile away. Acme is just a hop, skip, and a jump away from the larger and more established Albatross Pub and the perfectly satisfactory Lanesplitter Pizza Pub, which makes for a decent little mini pub crawl or a satisfying night out.
I went on a Wednesday night and Acme was full. I tried a Rye Whiskey flight they had listed, and it was awesome. The spirit selection is probably the biggest selling point of the place - tons of great whiskey, gin, and various eaux de vies. A great bar that's entering our usual lineup. -
Review from Garrett D.
Berkeley, CA
8/11/2011
Acme Bar is a great neighborhood bar. They've got a huge selection of alcohol (tequila, whiskey, etc), a few good beers on tap and even three kinds of alcohol on tap. Now how often do you see that? It's the kind of place where you can chill out with friends or grab a slice at Lanesplitter and hang out with the bartender and locals. They usually have a DJ spinning an 80's & 90's mix on the weekend and you'll occasionally find a food truck out front.
They recently took out the pool table which I think is a plus because it opened up more room. They've got some temporary furnishing there but I hear nice new stuff is on the way.
My only complaint is the jukebox extortion. If nobody is feeding it bills the place goes silent. On the upside, they've got a couple pinball machines to keep you entertained.Listed in: Berkeley Favorites, World's Best Dive Bars
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 8/14/2011
Thank you so much for your review. We also appreciate the… More » -
Review from Katie M.
Berkeley, CA
6/13/2011
I absolutely love Acme. My boyfriend and I come here most Fridays for the great PBR and whiskey special and the classic Motown and Soul tunes. I love the nights where people actually dance (pool tables be damned!)
Since we're both graduate students, we appreciate the fact that people older than the age of 22 hang out here. The bartenders are super nice, give great advice about whiskey, and I love the jukebox (even though it is arguably overpriced).
I love most dive bars and this is a little too clean and well-priced to be divey. But what makes it a borderline-divey is how down-to-earth the place and people are. I would feel comfortable coming here in my Sunday best or my gym gear. After stressful weeks, I look forward to Otis Redding and Jameson on Friday nights. Do yourself a favor and check it out.Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 6/16/2011
Thank you so much for your great review! We really… More » -
Review from Alice L.
Berkeley, CA
12/25/2011 2 photos
Cozy bar with very expansive whiskey and liquor options, including whiskey on tap. The place is very dim and relatively clean. The pinball machine costs a buck. There's also a jukebox in the front that changes colors and the last time I went, they had super festive holiday decorations: Christmas lights, baubles, stockings, and the bar stocked with mini-candy canes. I've never went wrong with anything I ordered here yet - from hot butter rum to their whiskey flight. I would recommend going on Sunday for their Meat Shakes, their epic equivalent of a Bloody Mary complete with steak!
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Review from Wendy N.
1/7/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Going to Acme makes me want to drink whisky. They have a HUGE selection! It's got the atmosphere of a dive bar and indeed it is. I met some friends for a meet up happy hour - drafts were $3.00 until 7:00 p.m. so I tried the Ranger IPA and a black lager called Death & Taxes (the only draft beer that is not on happy hour). They also have a large selection of vodkas which I'll try another time. I definitely want to try the Bloody Mary on a Sunday. Comes with a strip of Carne Asada and tons of other garnishes for $6.00.Sounds fabulous!!
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Review from Jess k.
Corvallis, OR
Highlights of this place: good happy hour prices and an amazing bloody mary with a meal attached!
This place is a great little dive. I first came in about a month ago with a friend during a week day happy hour. We ordered two pints, which were $3 each. What a deal! It was pretty loud and raucous, and seating was a bit hard to find. It seems like a good place to unwind after a long day of work. There's pool and a few televisions.
The second time I came here was early afternoon on Super Bowl Sunday. It was relaxed and quiet. My friends and I each ordered a bloody mary. HOLY CRAP! It's $5 and comes complete with a meal! By meal I mean: a HUGE chunk of carne asada, celery, lemon wedge, lime wedge, olives, pickle, pickled carrot, jalapeno, cocktail onion, potato, cucumber or zucchini. This is all held in the drink by 3-5 skewers. I think what would make it a bit better is if they added some bacon. The bloody mary was the best I had in a long time.
This place is great! -
Review from Kathleen W.
Albany, CA
Driving down San Pablo - I saw a tent sign boasting of 100+ different whiskeys - I was intrigued. 15 minutes later while flipping through a copy of East Bay magazine, I see an ad for Acme. I check yelp, I text to my sister - she responds with "right now? ". It was 1:00 in the afternoon ... the right time for whiskey, but alas we had other plans.
Flash forward to 9:30 that Sunday night and while I expected a near empty bar - the place was packed! A chalkboard wall of so many whiskey's you'll feel buzzed just reading them. I ordered a flight of 3 - Baby Hudson, Yamazaki and Rare Eagle. 3 whiskey's to prove to me that I'm not a fan of whiskey ... although some I dislike less than others. The other 3 connoisseurs appreciated it all much more so I'm certain we'll be back.
I like this place so much, I'll even drink whiskey just to come here again. Luckily, they have other stuff too! Staff is awesomely nice. -
Review from Rachel M.
Costa Mesa, CA
3/12/2011
Friday night at 9, it was less than 25% full, quiet actually. I waited at the bar for 10mins and listen to the bartender talk to a friend/customer.
I wanted 1 quick drink, and to throw her a 20$ and leave- whatever its her loss on the 50% tip -
Review from Ashley M.
Man, Acme, what the fuck happened to you? I mean, really. When I visited you before, you were the sort of bar that I go crazy for. You were dark-walled, your juke played punk rock, there was a topless mermaid on your bathroom door (chi-chis!!), people who looked like they belonged at a hot rod show were amongst your clientele--yet you still had a pretty decent selection of draft beers, a lot of bottled options, an immense variety of hard liquors, from all parts of the shelf spectrum, AND reasonable prices.
Not much has changed where it counts, I guess. The bartenders are cute and friendly, the draft and bottled beer selections are the same, ditto liquor and prices. And there's Fernet and Jameson on tap! I don't know if that was offered before, but how fancy, right? Good show, Acme. Good show.
Alas, where is my mermaid? WHERE IS SHE? Oh, she's UNDER the BORING brown paint that now covers the bathroom door? FOR SHAME. I don't mind places upping their game, but when doing so takes the character from the place--the sign, for instance, looks like it's for a gathering hall or something, not the awesome hip dive this place once was--I can't get behind it. The walls are a light greyish now, which really makes the whole place feel more airy--but I DON'T WANT AIRY FROM A BAR! And I heard Lady Gaga on the jukebox. Don't get me wrong: I love me some Gaga. But really, Acme? Really?
I thought we had something serious, but now I know you just played me. You're still a cool bar, Acme, and I will still visit (in fact, I'd even give you 4 stars if I had previously given you 5...but I didn't, so I won't, though I'd say you're a solid 3.5), but you've just lost the cool factor.
You do score points for the Christmas ornaments dangling from the ceiling panels. They're pretty and a nice touch. But...still.
I liked you the way you were, baby. I wish you hadn't felt the need to change.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/1/2009 ROTD 4/16/2010
For many a year, I've been walking and driving by Acme, feeling slightly inferior to the… Read more »
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Review from Rebekah T.
San Francisco, CA
11/29/2010 1 Check-in Here
I used to live in the East Bay and to be honest when I moved back to the city, I rarely cross the bridge anymore. It had been quite awhile since I been to the Acme bar, almost long enough to not recognize the place at all.
The new interior makes the place look nice, it's still a low key place for drinks - but it's not that dirty divey place I used to know. Bartenders were good and made me some nice bourbon Manhattans that were priced well.
It's good to come back around to the East Bay and find good solid spots to hang out, play a game of pool and catch a drink with friends. -
Review from Bill H.
12/11/2010 3 Check-ins Here
I've been to Acme twice in the past three months. The bar has a one-dog-at-a-time policy, which is awesome as far as Berkeley bars go.
The bourbon selection is stellar, as is the tap. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgable.
Slightly throwing off my last visit was a really poorly made Hot Toddy, which tasted more like a Lukewarm, Watery Timmy.
In any event, I'd definitely head back and bring friends. -
Review from Caitlin M.
Oakland, CA
12/7/2010
Bourbon and whiskey and scotch selections alone get you four stars.
What gets you that fifth star is seeing the tiny blonde bartender, who up until 30 seconds ago you thought was just certainly pleasant enough, turn into KICK ASS WONDER WOMAN when she tosses two dudes out on the street for trying to sneak 40's into her bar after being told repeatedly not to come back.
AWESOME. Badass bartender, I SALUTE YOU.Listed in: Pinball Wizards
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Review from Miss M.
Berkeley, CA
5/10/2011
I was originally really into their bloody mary. On Sundays, they make the "meat shake" mentioned by others. Just a little steak with your salad! Kinda tough to eat and still look pretty, be warned.
These days I've decided their bloody just tastes like tomato and Tobasco, but have found that their bartenders are great for making all kinds of drinks! Best negroni ever.
A bit like a hole in the wall (cozy!), jukebox a bit too complicated, pinball machines that seem rigged against you, pool for $1. I love it! -
Review from Numrin T.
Berkeley, CA
1/31/2011 1 Check-in Here
Acme offers a wide variety of drinks and cocktails and they are surprisingly cheap! You can get a flight of whiskeys starting from $6 to around $12. Beers are ranging at around $5 and cocktails aren't that much more. (Did I mention that they also have a drink named after a professor at Cal?--I'll leave that up for you to explore!) This place is an upscale version of hotsy totsy, in my opinion. It's cleaner, slightly smaller, and the bar offers fancier lists of drinks.
I suggest you get here early (like before 10) to secure a spot and avoid having to stand up drinking the whole night and being pushed around by most likely drunk people. -
Review from Monica S.
9/21/2010
Acme is a dive bar with class. It's got the dark and dingy feel, minus the actual muckiness that comes with the territory. As with any rough and tumble bar, you can expect the obligatory PBR + whiskey special and a steady stream of locals bellying up to the bar and chatting up the cute bartender.
A pool table in the back might keep you there after a couple and don't let the lack of food prevent you from staying, they welcome you to bring your own edibles.
This would be a real easy place to get cozy and chat with amigos.Listed in: East Bay Bars
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Review from Craig K.
Mountain View, CA
3/2/2011
I've been to acme a number of times. The alcohol selection is probably the best in Berkeley. It's got a great selection of top shelf items especially whiskies. The american focus on whiskies is nice to see and many of them really do hold their own against some of the top shelf scotches. The place is often moderately crowded for a local bar, though I've never seen it overflowing. The bartenders are often pretty tied up, but still usually as helpful as they can be.
So with all that said why the only 2 star rating? It's very specific to 1 incident, but clearly made many people unhappy. On a friday night when it was 40 degrees outside and people were comfortably inside enjoying their drinks the bouncer opened the door. For a small place its noticeable everywhere, but especially anyone near the bar area. As 3 people got up to try to close the door the bouncer told them its staying open. As a result 3 tables emptied out for the night at only 10:30pm. While I'll likely return at some point if the same bouncer is there and anything like this time it'll be the last. -
Review from Maximillian M.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2011
Very nice chill bar, ridiculous booze selection if you're into that, but stuck with a Ranger IPA. On tap, of course.
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Review from Phan H.
Berkeley, CA
11/23/2011
This is a very nice bar, which was a hole in the wall. Decently packed and cheap drinks. Lots of tabling to sit, but its very loud so you can't really have a deep conversation. If you want to get away from the college undergraduate crowd, this is the place to go, because it's far from campus.
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Review from Kathy W.
Berkeley, CA
Updated - 12/4/2011
We waited 5 months, and returned to the dogless acme, but shortly thereafter they removed the pool, and then the pinball. Also, they charge extra for credit cards, which is against the law. No one fun goes there anymore. See ya at Missouri or Albatross!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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5/28/2011
The Acme used to be cool.
We were really excited when we moved in near the Acme 2 years ago.
Then… Read more »
Comment from Jennifer S. of Acme Bar 5/30/2011
Sorry you had a bad experience. As you can see by our many… More » -
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Review from Kathryn S.
Berkeley, CA
12/2/2011
What a delightful establishment! The bartenders are very nice, if only they didn't play porn On the tv (it's a bit distracting)
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Review from L.A. W.
Tracy, CA
7/23/2008
I'm completely in agreement. If you don't like smoke, don't go.
I love that I can come in here dressed to the nines, or in jeans and feel fine. I love that there are mostly cool and mellow people around. I love that the drinks aren't bady priced, and the DJ's play wonderful subversive stuff on Fridays. I love that it's got a punk vibe with no bad attitude. I LOVE THAT I CAN SMOKE CIGARS HERE!!!!
Yeah, there's the "I'm SO MUCH cooler than you" guy in the corner that is begging you to give him crap for his way too perfect rockabilly getup...and occasionally there are a few angry at the world women there that give dirty looks to any female that attempts to display their femininity with pride...
But every bar worth its margarita salt has colorful patrons, right? That's what gives it character, and makes it unique. So while they may cause me amused irritation, I love those characters for the atmosphere they help complete...a smokey, rockin' dive bar with attitude, great music, OUTSTANDINGLY FRIENDLY bartenders, and fun people to watch and meet (mostly). -
Review from Jay H.
4/9/2008
Guess who got tanked tonight!?!?!? That's right.....me.
7 years ago I thought this place was a vampire biker bar because it had red and black decoration and from the outside it's basically shrouded so you can't see indoors. All black windows.
It's really just a cool ass punk dive bar.
And yes...I totally didn't fit in.Listed in: Drinking isn't for wussies
